Have you ever considered recycling your Christmas tree? Each year, Americans buy an estimated . The average tree takes about seven years to grow but spends just two to four weeks gracing our living rooms. Then, too many of them live out the rest of their days in the landfill, taking up space and emitting methane, a very harmful greenhouse gas, while they oh-so-slowly decompose.

You might think a fake Christmas tree that you can reuse year after year might be a better solution, but you’d be wrong, says Tim O’Connor, executive director of听 the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA). 听鈥淔ake trees are made from PVC plastic and metal in a Chinese factory and shipped overseas,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hey are not recyclable and will sit in a landfill for more than 1,000 years after they’ve been disposed.鈥�

O’Connor says real trees are a far more sustainable solution. Even more so if you give them a second life. So before you drag yours to the curb for the garbage truck to haul away, consider these clever ways to recycle your Christmas tree.

How to Recycle Your Christmas Tree

Check with your town

Many towns and cities around the country have curbside tree pickup days. The question is, what do they do with them all? Before you drag your tree to the curb, call your public works department to ask. Do they landfill them or run them through a chipper to make mulch to use in local parks? If the latter, you can feel good about letting them haul it away. NCTA says there are more than 4,000 local Christmas tree recycling programs around the U.S.

Make your own mulch

Christmas trees for garden beds. If you have access to a chipper use that, or rent one for a day with your neighbors and make a communal pile. Alternatively, you can cut the branches into manageable pieces and lay them in your garden beds over bulbs and perennials to provide some insulation. This can reduce winter damage for plants like lavender and rosemary that sometimes don鈥檛 survive the cold months. If you have a compost pile, lay some boughs over top to keep the pile warm so it can continue working over the winter.

Recycle your Christmas tree into a wildlife habitat

If you have a large property, find a remote spot and lay the tree on its side to create a brush pile. According to the wildlife biologists at Backyard Ecology, this can create a great place for songbirds, lizards, snakes, rabbits, and other small mammals to live and hunt. Add other sticks and branches if you like. If you have a pond on your property, sink the tree. The fish will love you for it.

Make coasters

Get ahead of the game and turn this year鈥檚 tree into next year鈥檚 presents. Strip the boughs off the trunk and (leave the bark on). Next, sand both sides with a heavy grit paper and smooth it out with a finer grit. Finally, apply a thin coat of varnish. Tuck them away till next year and give them away as sets of four.

Make your own pine-scented cleaning spray

This one comes from one of my favorite influencers, Armen Adamjan. Just chop up a few branches and put them in an airtight jar. Add a couple cups of vinegar and set it on a sunny sill for about a week. Adamjan says the vinegar will extract the oils and antibacterial properties of the pine. Add a shot of vodka or rubbing alcohol, then strain the golden liquid through a coffee filter into a spray bottle. Use it on countertops, mirrors, stove tops, or floors. Make a big batch and stop buying all those expensive, toxic cleaners. I love the smell of this spray so much; it makes me clean more often!

Make a sachet

Stick some clippings into a cloth bag and tuck it into a drawer or closet to impart a nice piney smell.

One final tip: Don鈥檛 burn your tree in your fireplace. It emits a lot of soot and coats your chimney with creosote. But it鈥檚 fair game and great fuel for your outdoor fire pit.

Kristin Hostetter is 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 sustainability columnist. She is obsessed with her pine-scented cleaning spray and is on the hunt for other pine-scented things to make with her Christmas tree. Follow her journey to live more sustainably by for her twice-monthly newsletter.

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There are countless surrounding the impact of holiday music on our mental health, with both positive and negative effects proven. While you may enjoy bopping along to The Jackson 5鈥檚 鈥淪anta Claus is Coming to Town鈥� when it plays on the car radio, or always crank up the volume when Mariah Carey鈥檚 鈥淎ll I Want For Christmas Is You鈥� comes on at your holiday party, these classic carols may actually be most useful when you鈥檙e out dashing through the snow, if you know what I mean.

Indres Viskontas, a neuroscientist, professor at the University of San Francisco, and author of , has analyzed and compiled copious amounts of research pertaining to music and psychological impact. For example, one had 20 male participants perform two six minute running tests, one with and one without music. Researchers measured mean running speed, blood lactate, total distance covered, heart rate, and rate of perceived exertion. The results concluded that runners who listened to their music of choice were significantly faster and had lower blood-lactate concentrations.听

Viskontas says amateur athletes specifically will benefit from running to music they enjoy鈥攅mphasis on the word 鈥渆苍箩辞测鈥�. It might be obvious to some, but benefits like improved mood, release of endorphins, and overall performance won鈥檛 be as strong if you鈥檙e listening to songs that you don鈥檛 enjoy.听

All that to say, elite athletes won鈥檛 necessarily improve by listening to music.听

鈥淭his is where the studies split and stop showing results,鈥� Viskontas says. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e at the far end of the spectrum of skill, it鈥檚 sort of moot. For example, a marathoner who sits at the front of the pack is probably not going to run faster if they are listening to music鈥攖hey鈥檙e already going as fast as they can. For the average runner, however, there are significant benefits.鈥�

How 鈥楳usic Doping鈥� Works

Music affects the brain on a chemical level. Viskontas cites a few mechanisms surrounding music and how we perceive it. The first is that music raises the in the brain. An example of this can be seen in dementia patients who, according to their CT scans, don鈥檛 show much brain activity due to the disease. But show that if you play music that a patient loves, their brain 鈥渃omes online,鈥� as Viskontas describes it. This is the arousal boost to the brain, much like a sip of caffeine, jolting you into attention.听

鈥淢usic is also a tool that鈥檚 often used to ,鈥� Viskontas says. 鈥淚t can pull our thoughts together and make us focused.鈥澨�

, director of the University of Nevada Las Vegas Music Lab, (and also an active runner) says, 鈥淵ou may not realize this, but when you listen to music, the part of your brain that you鈥檙e using doesn鈥檛 just process sound. It鈥檚 also the part that controls movement, so you鈥檙e actually engaging the motor system of the body when you listen to music.鈥澨�

Another mechanism is called the analgesic effect, or the endorphin effect. This is when music raises levels of neurochemicals, like dopamine and hormones,that play important roles motivation, especially when it comes to movement.听

鈥淢usic can wake us up, synchronize our brain activity and movements, and raise neurochemicals that allow us to run faster and stronger with less pain,鈥� Viskontas says.

鈥楻un Rudolph Run鈥櫶�

Given all this research about the correlation between endurance performance and music, we wondered how Christmas carols, one of the most polarizing genres, fit into these studies. For some people, holiday tunes can have a lot of negative associations, while others experience heightened senses of happiness.

鈥淥ne of the reasons Christmas music has such an emotional impact is because it comes at a time when we either celebrate with family, or are reminded of family we lost,鈥� Viskontas says. 鈥淲e only hear it during one part of the year, and that happens to be a time where we鈥檙e making a lot of memories, either happy or sad.鈥�

She adds that, as humans, we are highly influenced by sounds in the world. It鈥檚 why, for example, we shy away from abrupt noises like a car backfiring or a thunderclap. Have you ever been startled awake by something (say, a cat knocking a vase off a table鈥攄arn you, Mittens)? That鈥檚 because hearing is one of the only senses we maintain even when we鈥檙e sleeping, because it鈥檚 so sensitive.听

鈥淲e like soothing sounds that make us feel safe,鈥� Viskontas reasons. 鈥淎nd if you take the top 100 most played Christmas songs on the radio and compare them to the top Billboard songs, you鈥檇 probably see more upbeat, joyful, happy sounds, which is why people might feel a certain comfort and happiness when listening to carols.鈥澨�

Those who have positive feelings around the holiday season will benefit from listening to carols while running, as the brain becomes stimulated (or, aroused), hyper-focused, and that can not only create that 鈥渞unner鈥檚 high,鈥� but can promote short-term psychoactive effects like feelings of calm and elevated mood. Excess endorphin release has also been for its pain-relieving properties, which can be extremely beneficial during a run, like a natural ibuprofen.听听

Hannon is of the opinion that the research regarding music鈥攋olly or not鈥攃an be divided into two schools of thought: It enhances your running performance or it alleviates pain, making you feel better overall during your workout but not necessarily producing better results.听

鈥淭here isn鈥檛 actually as much research as you鈥檇 think on this,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to get a whole bunch of people to show the same effects because there are so many factors that influence your performance on any given day.鈥�

In any case, there鈥檚 a short window of opportunity for these benefits, if you reap them. Listening to Christmas music before the 25th can spur excitement of what鈥檚 to come, whereas hearing your favorite merry tunes in January can seem sort of鈥epressing.

As for Viskontas, she says she grew up singing in the choir in school, so there鈥檚 some Christmas music she can鈥檛 listen to without crying鈥攁 sort of melancholy nostalgia. But other carols, more modern tunes, bring about more positive associations.

鈥淚 listen to them while I鈥檓 trimming the tree or doing something else holiday-related,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut going for a run while listening? I鈥檝e never tried. But, you know what? I might have to test that out.鈥澨�

Holiday Music That Decks My Halls

Below is a playlist of Christmas songs (with a few Hanukkah and Kwanzaa tunes, too!) that make us merry and bright while on our daily runs. Try sprinkling them into your own Spotify exercise playlist and see if they make you go ho, ho, ho or no, no, no.听

Holiday Running Playlist

O Come, All Ye Faithful, Pentatonix听

Carol of the Bells, Mykola Dmytrovych and John Williams听

Christmas Eve / Sarajevo 12/24, Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Santa Tell Me, Ariana Grande

Underneath the Tree, Kelly Clarkson

Last Christmas, Wham!

Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, R3HAB

Christmas Tree Farm, Taylor Swift听

Little Saint Nick (1991 Remix), The Beach Boys听

Light Up the Nights, Maccabeats

Oh Hanukkah, Maccabeats听

Kwanzaa-Umoja-Uhuru, Sounds Of Blackness

Matunda Ya Kwanzaa, Rockapella

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This has been a tough year for everyone. It has dealt significant financial and personal hardships on such a large scale that it feels ridiculous to even write about presents. On the other hand, as someone who has had the privilege of holding onto his job鈥攁nd his health鈥擨 think if you have the means,听it鈥檚 a good time to spread extra cheer by being extra thoughtful with holiday giving. Everyone on my list showed me a lot of kindness, grace, and patience this year and I鈥檓 thanking them in part with these gifts.

Dad

听($189)

While the more than $10 per ounce price tag makes beyond decadent, I鈥檝e tested Holy Grail鈥檚 premium Wagyu and don鈥檛 doubt that this will be the best steak my father has ever eaten. I would buy him a bottle of scotch with a price tag north of $150 or grab the bill at a holiday dinner at a fancy steakhouse in appreciation of all he has done for me so this most luxurious of steaks feels just right鈥攅specially since he鈥檒l be able to prepare it in the comfort of his own home.

惭辞尘听

($65)

My mom and I have never been very good sleepers. We claim our ability to function on roughly four hours of sleep night after night is a superpower, but we would gladly choose long peaceful nights of sleep if only we could. Enter , whose concoction of melatonin and magnesium I use to manage my pandemic-enhanced insomnia. They settle me down enough to get to turn off the Kindle at a reasonable hour, and keep me down throughout the night鈥攚ith no morning-after grogginess. I am excited to share calming stories of deep sleep with her, rather than ones of our resilience in the face of exhaustion.

($25)

I also got her the so she could ditch her second leash on her daily dog walks with her two beloved quirky terrier mixes. Both gifts will hopefully lead to a calmer 2021.

叠谤辞迟丑别谤听

($270)

While this isn鈥檛 the sexiest present, I鈥檓 giving my brother a because I selfishly want to communicate with him more easily. We work virtually together often, and his WFH situation is in a room far away from his WiFi source, which means I spend a lot of time staring at his frozen face while repeating his name in monotone during important conversations. I can鈥檛 take it anymore, so here we are.听

厂颈蝉迟别谤-颈苍-濒补飞听听

($35)

($25)

While a $25 bottle of wine is a fine holiday gift, it will likely be consumed and forgotten before the New Year. An aesthetic, useful, and ergonomic insulated coupled with an equally handsome high-gloss is a gift that will keep on giving. I prefer boxed wine while camping and I look forward to enjoying happy hours using this pair with my sister-in-law for many summers ahead.

笔补谤迟苍别谤听

($44)

($86)

($45)

($18)

Due to the nature of my job, I am usually better outfitted than my wife for the sports we do together. I鈥檓 pretty ashamed when I鈥檓 exceptionally comfortable in a top-end kit while she shivers in old Costco base layers and fleeces she鈥檚 owned since college. This year she鈥檚 expressed interest in cold-weather running so I put together this primo collection for her by focusing on my favorite materials for next-to-skin comfort. The uses Polartec PowerWool, which is a fine merino wool synthetic blend that gives a nice little thermal bump with remarkable moisture management. The feature Polartec Powerstretch Pro, which also mitigates sweat without inhibiting movement. The and are suggestions from female friends who run year round in our town. The Aspires are currently my sock of choice for long 谤耻苍蝉.听

顿补耻驳丑迟别谤听

($79)

In the past I鈥檝e bristled about people focusing on the cuteness of well-made children鈥檚 adventure gear while overlooking the fact that it allows kids more comfort while playing outside. Three years into parenting, I鈥檝e climbed off my high horse and embraced how damned cute kids gear can be. Case in point: that will make my daughter Jojo look like a cheetah鈥攖ail, ears, and all. She is on a serious cat kick right now,听so I plan to play with my feline-human hybrid as she crawls around our house this winter. The synthetic fleece will also add a solid moisture wicking thermal layer below her bibs and jacket for ski days this season.

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During the holiday shopping rush, stocking stuffers often become second-tier gifts,听obligatory trinkets. We think that鈥檚 the wrong approach. (Smaller gifts often听get used the most!) Here鈥檚 our list of smart, fun, and useful presents that will fit听in socks hung above the听fireplace听and make anyone happy on Christmas morning鈥攁nd well afterward.听

UCO听Titan Stormproof Match Kit ($10)

waterproof case holds 12听matches, so it鈥檚 perfect for the backcountry skier or winter camper on your list and should live in their safety kit at all times. Once they鈥檙e听lit, they鈥檒l burn for up to 15 seconds, which is handy听for starting fires during听emergencies or in suboptimal conditions.

Printworks Classic Dominos ($32)

We鈥檙e all spending more time inside nowadays, so games have taken on a new importance. If you鈥檙e tired of playing cards, Scrabble, and Monopoly, pull out these beautiful 听to create hours of entertainment for the entire family. Practice your skills, then do your best impression of Ice Cube from .听

Field Notes National Parks Three-Pack ($13)

Keeping a journal often helps me during hard times. Writing down your thoughts and feelings鈥攂oth the good and difficult ones鈥攎akes them easier to process. These are a great starting point, because they鈥檙e small enough to go everywhere with you听and beautiful if they just sit on your desk at home.听

Voormi Everyday Gaiter ($35)

This is currently my most used piece of gear. Designed to be an everyday COVID mask, it鈥檚 a high-quality wool with ear loops to ensure it stays up. When you鈥檙e driving or between stops, it conveniently rests around your neck. I鈥檓 also excited to use it as my main face covering for warmth and safety this ski season.

Huckberry Beanie ($28)

Made from an acrylic-wool blend, this is ideal for cold walks with the dog听or even backcountry skiing, but it鈥檚 not too thick or warm that I can鈥檛 wear it to stay cozy while working from home. Made in Japan and available in a ton of colors, it looks great听on everyone and goes with nearly any outfit.听

Jacobsen Salt Co. Habanero Salt ($11)

Jacobsen produces the best salt I鈥檝e ever tasted (it鈥檚 hard to use anything else once you tried this brand), and adds a nice kick to a number of dishes. Sprinkle it on your eggs in the morning, add it to the rim of a cocktail in the afternoon, and eat it on your grilled chicken at dinner.

Urban Agriculture Grow Your Own Christmas Tree ($25)

Here鈥檚 a that truly keeps on giving. Thanks to easy instructions, you鈥檒l have a spruce sprout in a couple months. After one year of indoor growth, it鈥檒l be ready to plant outside. You can then leave it forever, or give it a handful of years and cut it down when you鈥檙e ready to celebrate Christmas around your very own hand-grown tree.

Cool Material Space Candle ($24)

Does space actually have a scent? Is that some sort of Zen koan? Either way, it鈥檚 a cool and ambitious idea to try and package what it might smell like out there. Give to the space lover in your family, and they鈥檒l be excited to light it up.听

PhD Outdoor Ultra Light Grateful Dead x听Smartwool Print Crew Socks ($27)

Fire on the Mountain, a short movie by Chris Benchetler that鈥檚 set to a Grateful Dead soundtrack, is by far my favorite ski film this season. It doesn鈥檛 try to impress us听but instead just celebrates what it means to be outside. Along with the film, Benchetler also helped create a handful of Grateful Dead鈥搃nspired Smartwool products, including , which are perfect for lounging around the house听or for quick hikes on the trail.

Oura Ring Health Tracker ($300)

This is an expensive stocking stuffer, but it鈥檚 one that the right recipient will really love. As a , it鈥檚 less cumbersome听than a watch听and accurately tracks everything from your workouts听to steps听to sleep. I鈥檓 now completely addicted and also like the way it looks. My suggestion: go with the Heritage version in black.

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Black Friday has come and gone. And for you other uncles out there, that means your time to forget to buy your听nephews and nieces entirely inappropriate gifts is rapidly drawing to a close. Allow me to help.

Their First Motorcycle

Everyone knows motorcycles are dangerous. Fortunately, young bones heal faster than old ones; there鈥檚 no better time to start riding than when you鈥檙e a kid.

How old does a child need to be before you can give them their first motorcycle? Harley-Davidson says its new range of electric balance bikes are听appropriate for children ages听three and up. So, naturally, I gave my best friend鈥檚 son, Wilder, his first Hog for his second birthday.

The IRONe12听($650) weighs just 17 pounds, so even Wilder鈥檚 dad is able to load it into and out of his truck with ease.听It operates with a twist throttle, so Wilder is learning real motorcycle control skills, as well as听balance, as he rips around trails on this thing at nine miles per hour, the top speed.

The two-amp-hour battery is only enough for about 30 minutes of riding, so in addition to a helmet, make sure you order your niece or nephew an extra one, too.

Their First Knife

According to a National Library of Medicine study, knives send to the emergency room every day. I gave Wilder that motorcycle because his mom told me two was too young for a first knife. What is听the right age? Every kid is different, obviously, but Boy Scouts start earning their Totin鈥� Chip (the equivalent of听a learner鈥檚 permit for knives)听at ten years old.

I鈥檓 pretty sure my biological nephew, Roscoe, is eight, so for Christmas this year, I shipped a听听($30) to his house in France. That鈥檚 the model I had when I was his age, and it comes complete with a saw,听scissors, and an awl (in addition to the blades and other tools), which听I remember using regularly听to construct a variety of forts and weapons.

There are听other knives out there and supposedly learner-friendly features, but in my opinion, as an avowed not-a-parent, a kid is better off learning how to handle the real thing. Pain remains an effective teacher. I still sport a scar from a Swiss Army knife saw across my left thumb鈥攂ut I haven鈥檛 injured myself with any saw听since.

A Trampoline

My two-year-old niece, Sarah, lives in Los Angeles听and doesn鈥檛 have a yard big enough for archery or motorcycle riding. However, trampolines can be stored vertically, meaning they take up no more room than a card table. The Academy of Pediatrics says trampolines are responsible for , a third of whom听break bones.

But they鈥檙e also a lot of fun. So听my wife and I picked out one for $90 that comes in bright colors and听is听appropriate for Sarah鈥檚听age. We look forward to seeing her parents鈥� faces on Zoom听after a long Christmas morning of nonstop jumping.

Camping Gear

There鈥檚 no better experience for a kid than a camping trip. Aside from weather, the primary determinant in the enjoyment of a night in the woods is the quality of your听camping gear. I figure most parents probably don鈥檛 spend as much time nerding out on this stuff as I do. And since I don鈥檛 have to foot听the bills for babysitters听and piano lessons, I figure it鈥檚 my sacred uncle duty to help out with equipment.

Big Agnes makes a handful of killer sleeping bags for kids听that pair with any 20-inch-wide rectangular pad. They鈥檒l keep children comfortable听down to 15 degrees (when paired with an insulated pad)听and use synthetic insulation that will remain warm if it gets wet. Better yet: they鈥檙e affordable, with prices starting at $70.

Kids can鈥檛 really go camping without an adult, so the biggest helpful hand you can extend听as gift-giver听may be with adult gear.听Sizing their tent up to a three- or four-person model might help,听as听might upgrading their sleep system to something warmer, more comfortable, or lighter. You can find my recommendations for two-person backpacking sleep systems here听and car camping setups here.

Of course, the best thing you can offer is to take your niece or nephew on a camping trip yourself.

Their First Bow

Once again this year, Wilder鈥檚 mom explained to me that he鈥檚 still听too young for a knife.听But听a National Library of Medicine study assures me that听. So I felt confident ordering Wilder a bow and arrow听for his third birthday.

The听 ($99) says it鈥檚 appropriate for kids ages听three through six. So听Wilder should be able to enjoy this thing for at least a year before he grows out of it.

Roscoe鈥檚 approximate age makes him too big for the Lil鈥� John, so for Christmas听I shipped him the ($110), sized听for听kids eight and up. The odds that my sister actually lets him听use听this thing are slim, but that at least means he鈥檒l be looking forward to archery lessons during my next visit.

Both bows include only three arrows. Kids learning archery lose arrows at a frightening rate, so I ordered six extra for each bow. Make sure you do the same, with arrows of the correct length. The parents will also probably appreciate a target. The relatively minimal draw weights for these bows means that a hay bale with a few dots spray-painted on it will work just fine.

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Forget milk and cookies. If Santa wants to have the endurance to fly around the globe, he really ought to upgrade to one of these holiday-appropriate energy snacks. These are just as easy to make as cookies. Whip up a batch for your New Year鈥檚 Day resolution ride. Plus, they make great gifts for your adventure buddies, too.听 听

Spiced Cranberry Energy Bites

Once a year, you pull out that pumpkin pie spice to make, well, a pumpkin pie. But that seems like a waste, since the combo of nutmeg, allspice, ginger, and cinnamon is so festive, says Hillary Pride, a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified personal trainer based in Portland, Maine. She is always making DIY energy bars (and showing them off on听). When the holidays roll around, these are her go-to.

This recipe makes about 30 bites鈥攎ore than enough for sharing. And听since it鈥檚 no-bake, it鈥檚 perfect for novice chefs. You just combine everything and stir.听FYI:听most dried cranberries are sweetened, which isn鈥檛 a big deal to most of us, especially if we鈥檙e going to be out all day, but听if you鈥檙e trying to eliminate added sugars, you can omit them or try to find the unsweetened variety.听

Ingredients

• 1 cup old-fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup date puree
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup chia seeds
• 1/4 cup ground flaxseeds
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Measure out about two teaspoons and, using your hands, roll the mix into a ball. Refrigerate until you鈥檙e ready to eat.听

Holiday Fruitcake for Athletes

Fruitcake doesn鈥檛 get enough love, perhaps because no one likes those weird, neon green candy fruits that come in it. 鈥� chef Biju Thomas听nixed those for this recipe. He instead instructs bakers to use whatever dried fruit they like. And he听cut the sugar way down, too. Don鈥檛 worry, it鈥檚 plenty sweet, thanks to orange juice, fruit, and a touch of sugar. But this is energy food, not dessert. The recipe makes about eight servings, so it鈥檚 enough to bring on a group hike or ride.听

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups of your favorite dried fruit
• 1 cup orange juice听
• 1/2 cup softened butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon cane sugar
• 1/2 cup flour (gluten-free baking mix works well, too)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 eggs, beaten
• A mixture of fruit and nuts听of your liking听
• 1 tablespoon orange marmalade

Directions

The night before you want to bake, place your dried fruit (or trail mix even works) in a bowl, and cover it with the orange juice. When you鈥檙e ready to get to work, preheat the oven to 300 degrees.听Line the bottom of a six-to-eight-inch听cake pan with parchment paper. (Do not use waxed paper; the wax will melt.) Strain the fruit, and discard the orange juice. In a large bowl, whisk together the softened butter, vanilla, and cane sugar. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and ground cinnamon. Set aside. Adding one ingredient at a time, blend the eggs into the butter mixture. Then add the flour mixture, soaked fruit and nuts, and听marmalade. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan, and bake on the center rack until a knife poked into the center comes out clean, approximately 60 to 90 minutes.

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Why should you care what I am getting my loved ones for Christmas? I鈥檝e built my career on giving the best advice I can on what gear people should buy. With the exception of my daughter鈥檚 gift, I kept my presents under $70 this year and bumped up the thoughtfulness. Here are my choices this holiday season.

Wife: Nike Swim Vapor Goggles ($35)

My wife, Sarah, and I share most of our sports鈥攅xcept swimming. While I still don鈥檛 understand the draw, I am extremely proud of the discipline she shows ripping laps and dodging water aerobics enthusiasts at our local pool. I got her the 听because of their fantastic 180-degrees of peripheral vision (to help her avoid flailing limbs in the lanes). That extra field of vision won鈥檛 come at a drag disadvantage because of how obsessively Nike minimized the profile of these goggles鈥攖hey claim the Vapors are their most hydrodynamic goggle yet.听听

Daughter: TNF Nuptse One Piece ($160)

The is significantly more expensive than any other item on this list. But I would sell a kidney for my only child if it could buy her happiness. Plus, it鈥檚 also kind of for me. The ample amount of 700-fill down and the DWR finish means I won鈥檛 hesitate to bring her on a ski tour or snowman-building session in all but the wettest, coldest conditions. Knowing she will be safe, dry, and warm means I can take her on snowy adventures all winter鈥攂etter for the both of us.听

Mom: Patagonia Fjord Flannel Patchwork Scarf ($45)

I鈥檓 a lot like my mom so I get her things I want myself. Similar to me, she prefers to look polished but is also practical about what she wears. is solidly built from the same 100-percent organic cotton that Patagonia makes my favorite heavy duty flannel shirts out of. It鈥檚 also extremely听soft on your skin, while its patched style give it nice color pops without being flashy.听

Dad: 国产吃瓜黑料 Journal Notebooks ($13)

My pops is an idea guy. When he's on fire, particularly when talking business, he has so many that he can be tough to keep up with. I want to make sure he doesn鈥檛 lose them with these rad topo-map . While any pocket-sized notebook and pen can catch ideas on the fly, AJ鈥檚 extra layer of intention in these notebooks鈥攆rom the mountains featured on the front to the tree they plant for every three pack sold鈥攚ill help my dad generate some of his best ideas.

Brother: Onnit 15-pound Steel Club ($40)

My older brother is a solid five inches taller than me and has always been a lot stronger. It seems fitting that my behemoth big bro should swing around a 15-pound mini bat in his garage to strengthen his arms and wrists. On top of easily fitting into a home workout kit, they鈥檙e a novel way to change up a routine previously dominated by kettlebells and running.

Sister-in-Law: Corkcicle Coffee Mug ($25)

A traditional coffee mug or an insulated drinking vessel are pretty standard gifts. But the refined exterior of says: 鈥淚 know you have style. I want to drink coffee with you while our families camp together this summer.鈥� Also, coffee is happiness and it can't hurt to be associated with it.

Father-in-Law: Tasc Legacy III Shorts ($78)

Last time I visited my father-in-law he athletically ran me into the ground. While struggling to keep up with him, I noticed that he rarely wore athletic shorts or shirts. Jack is not flashy about what he works out in: he鈥檇 prefer to sweat through a white Haines鈥� undershirt than stress about hydrophobic properties. are perfect for him because they look like a classic black workout pair but hide amazing comfort and stretch details in their cotton, bamboo, and spandex weave. Solid performance in a subtle package.

Mother-in-Law: Noso Patches ($6 and up)

My mother-in-law Debbie is extremely involved with her local animal rescue and has a reputation for adopting animals that no one else can handle. As a result, she has a decidedly motley crew of cats. My wife and I got her a nice Big Agnes puffy jacket years ago that has had its ass kicked by their claws. Noso patches adhere to her jacket more firmly with each dryer cycle and add significantly more style to a jacket than duct tape.

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Being away from loved ones over the holidays is a struggle. There鈥檚 a lot to be missed,听from Thanksgiving meals to New Year鈥檚 Eve kisses. I鈥檝e been in a long-distance relationship听for almost a year and a half. My partner and I have celebrated birthdays, Christmas, Valentine鈥檚 Day, and our one-year anniversary while being 5,000 miles apart, but we鈥檝e found creative ways to make up for it.

Here are eight gift ideas that have helped us show each other we care even when we鈥檙e apart. Of course, these gestures are nice even if you鈥檙e not far from your significant other, but they can make a big difference when you鈥檙e not together in person.

A Plane Ticket

This might be the best gift, if you can swing it.听 for yourself or for them, and plan a visit. Put in the time and effort to make the trip, and your partner reaps the benefit of your company. (And vice听versa.)听Alternatively, you can get two tickets听and arrange to meet somewhere and explore a new place together. (We highly recommend听Kayak鈥檚 Rendezvous tool.)

Ordering a Present Online

Wherever you like to shop online鈥擜mazon, , or the multitude of other online stores鈥攜ou can have a surprise delivered to your favorite person鈥檚 address. It probably won鈥檛 be wrapped in colorful paper (although some places do offer gift wrapping), but who doesn鈥檛 like getting packages? Just make sure the online store delivers to the right location.听(REI delivers some but not all of its products . For international Amazon deliveries, I recommend going to the听country in question鈥檚 Amazon site.) For gift recommendations, check out our Holiday Gift Guide.

Surprise Flower Delivery

For my birthday this year, my partner had flowers delivered to my house, and it was easily the best part of my day. Regardless of distance, flowers are a classic. In the past I鈥檝e used , but there are a ton of different online options like , , and . Better yet, find a local shop near your SO that delivers.

Delivered Food

On my partner鈥檚 birthday, I sent him a dozen donuts from 听in his area. If you can鈥檛 personally be there, donuts are probably the next best thing. Alternatively, chocolate or pizza are good options. With delivery services like GrubHub, DoorDash, or UberEats (or Deliveroo in the UK), you can also get creative听and order your partner鈥檚 favorite food.

A Photo Book

With or , you can create a little digital photo album of you and your sweetheart and get it printed into a book. You can also add words or little notes. Just put the delivery address down as your partner鈥檚 address. I recommend this one for anniversaries or for the New Year.

Plans for a Trip

If you can鈥檛 get away for the holidays, for the future. When the norm is being far apart, it鈥檚 nice to have a time to look forward to when听you鈥檒l be together. For听ideas or inspiration, check out听these trips we recommended as gifts.

Invest in a Joint Gift

Consider investing in a piece of gear with a bigger price tag that the two of you will use together. Think a pair of kayaks, a听rooftop tent, or听if you want to go really big, a听trailer. This year听my partner and I are going to start saving听to get a in the summer. If the price is more than you can afford right now, start a savings account and agree to add a little each month.

No Gift

If neither you nor your partner are particularly gift-oriented, think about听not buying into the consumerism of the holidays. Instead, set up a few hours to do something special together while video chatting. Plan to cook the same meal together over FaceTime听in your separate kitchens, then dine together. If you鈥檙e the competitive type, see who can make the best presentation, reality-TV style.

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I strive to be the kind of person who gives people thoughtful gifts that recipients听genuinely appreciate. Here鈥檚 some really nice stuff that I鈥檝e given, received, or just bought for myself recently. It鈥檚 gone down well for me, so I think it鈥檒l work for you and your outdoorsy loved ones too.

Hand-Made Mugs

My buddy Ty Brookhart makes these mugs by hand, in a tiny studio behind his log cabin in Gold Hill, Colorado. They鈥檙e not just unique looking, they鈥檙e also made from local clay, surprisingly durable, and feel good to hold. I鈥檓 drinking coffee out of one he made me over a year ago right now. As gifts, they鈥檙e perfect for people who are difficult to shop for. I鈥檝e given Ty鈥檚 work to both of my mothers-in-law, hopefully convincing them that I鈥檓 capable of being friends with creative people. The mugs range from $42 to $58.

This item is currently out of stock.

Filson Wool Trapper Coat

I got one of these for Virginia for Christmas this year. I can tell you that safely ahead of time, because I was so excited, I made her open it early. At $795, a coat like this one is obviously a splurge, but compared to other luxury brands, Filson鈥檚 stuff is genuinely functional outdoors, so I feel good knowing that she鈥檒l be able to wear this thing in the snow, as well as out to dinner. The heavy wool body is very warm, and naturally repels precipitation, while the sheepskin shearling collar adds both flash and cozy comfort. The best part is that Filson actually cuts these for slim bodies; unlike a lot of their coats we don鈥檛 need to get this one tailored. Filson makes them for both men and women.

Fjallraven Keb Trousers

These are, hands down, the best pants I鈥檝e ever worn. They鈥檙e perfect for hiking, hunting, climbing, lounging鈥ou name it. At $225 they鈥檙e a little pricey, but they hold up to abuse and last through years of constant wear. Anyone who does anything outdoors will appreciate a pair of Kebs, just note that they make them in a couple different lengths and cuts. With my 34-inch inseam, I wear the longs, while Virginia likes the women鈥檚 curved model because it has a higher waist.

A Bright Flashlight

A good quality, modern flashlight is one of those gifts that works for pretty much anyone. I鈥檝e given them to my mom, several of my in-laws, and a bunch of friends. The FourSevens Mini is still my favorite. It can put out up to 900 lumens in a package that鈥檚 not much larger than a chapstick. And you can run it with a pocket clip, keychain ring, or as a headlamp, and it has a magnet in its base so you can use it as a work light. Not bad for $60.

A Good Knife

Pretty much as soon as Virginia and I started dating three years ago, I gave her a $140 Spyderco Paramilitary 2. It鈥檚 as good a pocketknife as anything out there, and operates with such satisfying precision that it鈥檒l be a nice upgrade from whatever the receiver currently carries. Knives like these are an essential tool for virtually any activity, even just eating a steak at a restaurant.

Randolph Aviators

I asked Santa for a pair of this year. Not only are they made in America by a brand , but they use glass lenses for much improved clarity over the plastic alternatives. Prices start at about $200, but there鈥檚 a variety of options like lens polarization and frame materials you can add on top of that. With three sizes available,听these will fit virtually any face.

An Upgraded Sleeping Pad

Give the gift of comfort with one of the most luxurious sleeping pads ever made. Or, two of them. Nemo built a coupling mechanism into its new Roamer pads that genuinely enables them to create a unified comfort that鈥檚 as good as your bed at home. Two of the $230 XL pads add up to a queen size bed, but pack smaller and easier than the full-size听Exped Megamat Duo. These would make a great gift for a outdoorsy couple, or give them to your partner if you want to have more romantic nights outdoors.

A Better Leash For Your Dog

Climbing rope makes the best dog leashes, but many of the commercially available options are made from a single strand, which is uncomfortable to hold. So I make my own by tightly braiding two strands together, and attach real carabiners to guarantee my dogs鈥� safety.

Make Your Own

Anything Cashmere

If I were to describe ethically-sourced, cruelty-free, vertically-integrated, environmentally-responsible anything, you鈥檇 expect it to be expensive. Doubly so if we apply those plaudits to cashmere. But, a new brand called Naadam is , and doing it at surprisingly affordable prices. Plus, the natural properties of wool apply to cashmere, just as much as they do to merino wool, with even more softness, so items like the $75 sweater are as functional as they are luxurious.

Cozy Baselayers

Everyone who does anything outdoors needs a good set of base layers. But, because we wear them virtually ever day, most of us who do stuff outdoors are sorely in need of a new set. This year, Smartwool brought genuine innovation to the space with 3D knitting technology that allows them to incorporate mapped ventilation zones into the material without using uncomfortable seams. That means you can wear a heavier weight through high output activities without getting all sweaty. And听the person you give these to will genuinely be warmer outside. Prices start at $120 for 200-weight pieces. Those are a good all-rounder for any activity in cool to cold weather. If you plan to give these to someone who prefers apr茅s to activity, opt for the $150 250-weights.

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Harvesting your own Christmas tree is cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and听a great family听tradition. Here, Wes Siler tells you what to watch out for and shows you how to do it right.听

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